Higher specialist training ST4-6 psychotherapy to become a Consultant Psychiatrist in psychotherapy

Posts in Medical Psychotherapy are either single Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT) or dual CCT.

Single CCT training is full-time for three years . Dual CCT training is full-time for five years. As a dual CCT trainee you will spend part of your training time in general adult psychiatry and part in medical psychotherapy.

Higher trainees in medical psychotherapy major in one psychotherapy modality and minor in two others. Posts tend to be set up with the major modality in mind.

You can obtain a Certificate of Completion of Training (CCT) in Psychotherapy by specialising in:

Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT)

Psychodynamic Psychotherapy

Systemic therapy.

Training comprises three years at ST4-6 level in a GMC approved psychotherapy scheme, quality assured by local deaneries through the schools of psychiatry.

Trainees acquire an in-depth knowledge of theory and practice of their major approach, and also receive training in CBT, psychodynamic, or systemic approaches.

At the end of this training you will gain a CCT as a specialist in psychotherapy and will be eligible to apply to be on the Specialist Register of the GMC. This will allow you to train specialty registrars in psychotherapy and to take the role of leading multi-modal psychological therapy teams. It is also possible to spend a year in psychotherapy which will lead to an endorsement in psychotherapy

Psychotherapy training for ST4-6 in specialties other than psychotherapy

The curriculum indicates that trainees continue to develop their psychotherapeutic expertise as they become higher trainees according to their interest and specialty, for example:

A rehabilitation or general adult trainee might seek to gain experience of cognitive therapy of psychosis

A trainee interested in eating disorders may gain further experience of family therapy

Psychodynamic psychotherapy, or training on group therapy may interest a learning disability trainee.

The combinations are many and tailored programmes of experience can be devised in conjunction with tutors and training programme directors.

Relevant CPD Online learning modules and podcasts

CPD for SAS doctors and consultant psychiatrists

Staff, SAS doctors and consultant psychiatrists can access psychotherapy training by attachments to departments of psychotherapy organised by the psychotherapy tutors of the organisation they work in, helping them to achieve and advance competencies
in the main psychotherapy modalities, working with individuals, couples, families or groups.

Role of a psychotherapy tutor

Each core training programme should have a tutor who is a consultant psychiatrist in sychotherapy.

The tutor works together with the training programme director ( TPD) of core training and the director of medical training of the trust to make sure psychotherapy training requirements are met in the training scheme.

This includes making sure that:

case based discussion groups (CBDs) are available in years 1 and 2

CBT, psychodynamic, systemic or integrative training and supervision are available to trainees

liaising with, and advising supervisors - who may be non-medical - of the training requirements

advising trainees when and what kind of psychotherapy cases are appropriate.

The psychotherapy tutor and other consultant psychiatrists in psychotherapy will also conduct and advise on the workplace based assessments such as the ACE on the psychotherapy long case.

The psychotherapy tutor will then contribute to the review of the trainee's progress by advising the TPD whether the psychotherapy requirements have been met.

The overall aim of the psychotherapy tutor is to help core psychiatric trainees develop habits of self reflection and emotional curiosity, to have an understanding of the therapeutic relationship, unconscious modes of communication and learn about different models of psychotherapy enough to be able to refer or work alongside as the patient undergoes therapy.